Tuning device for stringed instruments.



H. SCHLEMMER. TUNING DEVICE FOR STRINGED IN STRUHBN TS.

I APPLICATION FILED-SEPT. 30, 1909. 974,095.

Patented 0015925, 1910.

QME 22 Z2 WW I 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. SCHLEMMER. TUNING DEVICE FOR STEINGED INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED SEPT. 30, 1909.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

HENRY SGHLEMMER,

OF EFFINGHAM,

ILLINOIS.

TUNING DEVICE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed September 30, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that- I, HENRY SCHLEMMER, a citizen of the United States,residing atthe city of Efiingham, in the county of Eliingham and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TuningDevices for Stringed Instruments, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention consists of a tuning device for stringed instruments, andhas for its object to provide means which render the tuning of aninstrument, to which same is attached, easier and more effective.

\Vith this device the tension of the string or strings can be increasedor decreased more gradually and the necessary tension on the string toproduce the desired tone can be maintained longer than in instrumentswhich are tuned in the ordinary way, 'i. 6., by adjusting the tension ofthe strings by means of tuning-pins or pegs.

IVhile this device is particularly intended for use on the class ofinstruments used in the musical instrument constituting thesubject-matter of my copending application, Serial No. 401,387, filedNov. 9, 1907, it can be advantageously used in pianos and on harps,mandolins, etc.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, in which likenumbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 isa side elevation of the device attached to a violin; Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of same; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device; and Fig.4 is a perspective view of the tuning-lever.

For the purpose of illustration the device has been shown in thedrawings as being attached to an instrument having a single string, butmutatis mum adds it can be attached to an instrument having a pluralityof strings. \Vhen the device is attached to a violin the neck with whichthe ordinary violin is equipped is modified, the usual scroll, pegs, andpeg-box are omitted entirely, and the form shown in the drawingssubstituted therefor.

The neck 1 is secured in any ordinary manner to the violin-body 2 andthe upper end of said neck is slotted at 3 between the sides 4t. Member5 is rigidly secured in said slot to the sides 41 by any suitable means.In said member 5 is an opening 6 in which Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

Serial No. 520,269.

[its a nut T, which nut is scrcw-threaded and through whichthun'ib-screw 8 passes, said thumb-screw, also, extending through saidmember. Each side t is notched at 9, which forms a bearing for aprojection 10 on the tuning-lever 11. Said tuning-lever is provided witha slot 12 in which the block 13 is fastened to the sides 1'-l by the pin15. The depression 16 in said block 13 forms a seat for the end ofthumb-screw S. The string 17 is fastened at its upper end to thetuning-lever 11 by the screws 18, or other suitable means, and passesthrough notch 19 in the end of said tuning-lever, thence over the upperbridge 20 and the lower bridge 21, and is attached at its lower end tothe tail-piece 22.

To regulate the tone of the string by raising the pitch a half tone, atone regulator is fastened to the neck 1. Said tone regulator comprisesthe block 23, which is fastened to neck 1 by the screw 2 1 and to whichthe member 25 is pivotally attached by the pin 26. Said member isprovided with a notch 27 in which string 17 rests when said memberoccupies the position depicted in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and with a pair ofarms 28 attached thereto by pin 29. Said arms are connected by thespacing-rod 30 and by the spacing-rod 31, thelatter rod being adapted toenter slot 32 in member 5 and to be held therein by a spring 33. \Vhenrod 31is held in slot 32 member engages string 17, which passes throughnotch 27, but when said rod is moved out of said slot member 25 can berotated on pin 26, thereby causing said member 25 to move out ofengagement with said string.

In tuning an instrument to which this device is attached the tension ofthe string can be regulated by turning the thumb screw 8 in onedirection or another to increase or decrease the tension. For example,when the thumb-screw 8 is turned so as to advance toward thetuning-lever 11 the block 13 and the end of said tuning-lever to whichsaid block is attached is forced downwardly and, due to the fact thatsaid tuninglever is fulcrumed in notches 9, the front end of saidtuning-lever is caused to be raised which increases the tension onstring 17 and raises the tone of said string, but when thumb-screw 8 isturned in the opposite di rection the back end of tuning-lever 11 movesupwardly with said thumb-screw and the tension of string 17 is therebydecreased which lowers the tone of said string.

If it is desired to raise the pitch of the string a half tone higher,the member 25 moved to engage string 17 and held in engagement therewithby the arms 28 when rod 31 is moved into slot 32 where it is held byspring 33, z. 6., if the string is to be tuned to play cZ-sharp, member25 would be moved out of engagement with string 17 and the thumb-screw 8would be turned to cause the string to play (Z, then member 25 would beraised to engage said string, thereby raising the tone to d-sharp.

I claim:

1. The combination, with a slotted sup port; of a tuning lever pivotedintermediate its ends in said slot for rocking movement and having oneend thereof bifurcated; a string fastened to the opposite end of saidlever; means for securing the opposite end of said string; a blockpivoted in the bifurcation in said lever for movement relative to thelatter, said block having a seat formed in its upper face; a memberrigidly secured in said slot above said lever and having one endoverhanging the bifurcated end of the lever, and a thumb screw threadedthrough the overhanging end of said member and having its lower endreceived in said seat, for rocking said lever to tension said string.

2. The combination, with a support formed with a slot and having theside walls of said slot formed with alining notches, of a rocking tuninglever extending through said slot and provided at opposite sides withcentrally located pivot pins removably received in said notches topermit the withdrawal of the lever, said lever having one end thereofbifurcated; a string fastened to the opposite end of said lever; meansfor securing the opposite end of said string; a block pivoted in thebifurcation in said lever for movement relative to the latter, saidblock having a seat formed in its upper face, a member rigidly securedin said slot above said lever and having one end overhanging thebifurcated end of the lever; and a thumb screw threaded through theoverhanging end of said member and having its lower end removablyengaged in said seat.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

HENRY SOHLEMMER.

"Witnesses CHAS. FEUERBORN, A. J. WORMAN.

